The laser alloying is a continually developing surface treatment because of its significant and specific structuration of a surface. In particular, it is applied for Ti alloys, being now the most essential biomaterials’ group for load-bearing implants. The present research was performed on the Ti13Nb13Zr alloy subject to laser modification in order to determine the treatment effects on surface topography and its some mechanical properties like nanohardness, Young’s modulus, roughness. A pulse laser Nd:YAG was applied at three different laser pulse regimes: either 700 W, 1000 W or 1000 W treatment followed by 700 W modification at a pulse duration of 1 ms. The surface topography and morphology were examined using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with spectroscope of X-ray energy dispersion. The mechanical properties were determined by nanoindentation tests and surface roughness with a use of profilograph. The wettability was tested with a goniometer. The obtained results demonstrate complex behavior of the material surface: decrease in penetration distance and increase in hardness after first laser treatment, maintenance of this trend when machining using a higher laser pulse power, followed by an increase in penetration and decrease in hardness after additional laser treatment at lower power input, due to which a surface with fewer defects is obtained. The change in Young’s modulus follows the change in other mechanical properties, but not a change in roughness. Therefore, the observed hardening with the increase of the laser pulse power and then a small softening with the use of additional treatment with lower power can be attributed to some processes of remelting, diffusion and crystallization, sensitive to the previous surface state and heat energy flux. Despite that, the laser treatment always caused a significant hardening of the surface layer.

Titanium and its alloys is the main group of materials used in prosthetics and implantology. Despite their popularity and many advantages associated with their biocompatibility, these materials have a few significant disadvantages. These include low biologic activity—which reduces the growth of fibrous tissue and allows loosening of the prosthesis—the possibility of metallosis and related inflammation or other allergic reactions, as well as abrasion of the material during operation. Searching for the best combinations of material properties for implants in today′s world is not only associated with research on new alloys, but primarily with the modification of their surface layers. The proposed laser modification of the Ti13Nb13Zr alloy with a carbon nanotube coating is aimed at eliminating most of the problems mentioned above. The carbon coating was carried out by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) onto ground and etched substrates. This form of carbon was used due to the confirmed biocompatibility with the human body and the ability to create titanium carbides after laser treatment. The EPD-deposited carbon nanotube coating was subjected to laser treatment. Due to high power densities applied to the material during laser treatment, non-equilibrium structures were observed while improving mechanical and anti-corrosive properties. An electrophoretically deposited coating of carbon nanotubes further improved the effects of laser processing through greater strengthening, hardness or Young′s modulus similar to that required, as well as led to an increase in corrosion resistance. The advantage of the presented laser modification of the Ti13Nb13Zr alloy with a carbon coating is the lack of surface cracks, which are difficult to eliminate with traditional laser treatment of Ti alloys. All samples tested showed contact angles between 46° and 82° and thus, based on the literature reports, they have hydrophilic surfaces suitable for cell adhesion.